Celebrate Memorial Day at Salt River Tubing and join us for the 24th annual Salt River Heroes = Litter Zero event over the holiday weekend, Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy a Floating Beach Blast and show your pride as a public lands steward in helping to keep the Salt River clean and beautiful. The Take Pride in America litter prevention initiative kicks off on this holiday weekend.
Salt River Tubing employees will be distributing free patriotic leis to the first 500 tubers each day during the holiday weekend as they prepare to launch a memorable adventure on the Salt River.
In the past 23 years, the nationally acclaimed program has reduced the amount of picnic trash on the Lower Salt River by 90 percent. Responsible floating tubers have stashed and bagged their picnic trash in the free Tommy Tuber litter bags distributed by Salt River Tubing, and placed them in designated receptacles upon exiting the Salt River.
To date, 786 tons of picnic trash has been stashed and bagged during the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends.
“During the past 23 years, responsible tubers have greatly contributed in helping to protect and conserve the Lower Salt River’s natural resources,” said Salt River Tubing President and Chief Executive Officer Henri Breault.
“Their public lands stewardship of stashing and bagging their picnic litter while floating helps to ensure that this recreational paradise will be enjoyed by future generations,” Henri continued. “We invite everyone to experience an Arizona floating tradition over Memorial Day weekend in Tonto National Forest’s mini-Grand Canyon on the Lower Salt River.”
Enjoy a leisurely float on the cool and inviting mountain stream waters and catch a glimpse of the diverse wildlife, including blue herons and the Salt River wild horses. Parking spaces are limited during the holiday weekend, so you are encouraged to be an early bird floater.
The Memorial Day holiday weekend on the Lower Salt River has been a celebration for millions of floaters during the past 38 years. Family reunions, as well as college and high school reunions, have enjoyed a unique Arizona tradition in the great outdoors.
Take Pride in America is a national partnership that aims to inspire a new generation of volunteers to put their love of country to work to improve our national parks, wildlife refuges, public lands, cultural and historic sites, playgrounds and other recreation areas.
The event at Salt River Tubing will include free giveaways, beach line dancing and hula-hoop contests.
Salt River Tubing has received a record four National Take Pride in America awards for the company’s conservation efforts in Tonto National Forest (1991, 2003, 2006 and 2010).
Salt River Tubing operates under permit of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service in Tonto National Forest.
Credit Cards Accepted
Cash and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) are accepted at Salt River Tubing. Credit card and cash transactions require a valid driver’s license for tube rental deposit and credit card identification. Please visit saltrivertubing.com for more details regarding credit card transactions.
The cost is only $17 plus tax and fees per person or tube, which includes tube rental, shuttle bus ride and free customer parking at Salt River Tubing.
Tubing Tips
Shooting the Salt River rapids is great fun, and company officials recommend the following helpful tubing tips to assist tubers in planning their floating beach blasts for the holiday weekend:
- A valid driver’s license is required for a tube rental deposit per five tubes rented.
- Children must be at least 8 years old and 4 feet tall for tubing and shuttle bus service.
- Life vests are strongly recommended for children, non-swimmers and inexperienced swimmers.
- Glass containers by law are not allowed in the Salt River Recreational Area. Ice chests will be inspected for glass containers before boarding shuttle buses. Please use plastic bottles or aluminum can containers.
- Have a great time during your floating beach blasts, but remember that drugs, alcohol and the Salt River do not mix. Responsibly appoint a designated driver before your tubing adventure.
- Floating picnic ideas include fresh fruit, burritos, fried chicken or sandwiches. Pack picnic items in Ziploc bags to keep dry. Please stash and bag all picnic supplies in litter bags while floating.
- Ice chest/coolers: Fill with ice, sport drinks, fruit juice and water. One to two bottles of water per hour while floating are recommended to help prevent dehydration.
- Sun block, tennis shoes, caps or visors should be worn. A minimum 30 SPF is recommended. Tennis shoes or closed toes also are recommended while tubing.
Salt River Tubing is located in Northeast Mesa, just minutes from Highway 202 East and Power Road (North) Exit 23A, in beautiful Tonto National Forest.
For more information about Salt River Tubing, please visit the website at saltrivertubing.com, or call (480) 984-3305 at Salt River Tubing headquarters. The Memorial Day Holiday Weekend operating hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the latest tube rental is 2 p.m., weather and water flow conditions permitting.